CIGNAL reached the PVL podium for the fifth time in seven conferences after sweeping Chery Tiggo, 18-25, 25-21, 25-22, 26-24, in the 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference battle for third place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
The HD Spikers extended their league record for most third-place finishes (4) and most podium appearances without a championship.
Only Creamline (13) and Petro Gazz (6) have more top three finishes in the league than Cignal.
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"I’m just very, very, very, very happy because I know how tired we are, I know how much work we’ve put in. We sacrificed so much and today, I really felt the fight from each player, each coach, and up to the management so I’m really thankful," Vanie Gandler said.
"Thank you kay Lord na naka-survive kami and nakuha namin ‘yung bronze medal. Hopefully, mas kuminang ‘to sa mga susunod na conferences," said Cignal head coach Shaq Delos Santos, who took over the reins since the club shifted to the PVL from the now-defunct Philippine Superliga (PSL) in 2021.
The series opener and series clincher traversed identical paths — close starts before Gandler & Co. stepped on the gas to end both matches in four sets.
However, Game Two had a rather anticlimactic finish as Chery Tiggo's last-gasp foot fault challenge on Jovelyn Gonzaga's penultimate attack was denied by game officials.
Despite a prolonged wait and continuous contentions from Crossovers deputy coach Kungfu Reyes, Eya Laure's attack error marked the end of the game to hand Cignal the win and the bronze.
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